Lock



Aug. 15, 1939 RMARPLE y 2,169,535

LOCK

Filed Aug. 19, 1957 NVENTOR Fai/a Mary/e.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 2,169,535

UNITED srarss cargar orrlcs LOCK Rollo Marple, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Hancock Manufacturing Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 19, 1937,v Serial No. 159,940

Claims. (Cl. 292-165) The present invention rela-tes to door latches, the appended claims, a preferred but illustrative or the like, and in particular provides an imembodiment of the invention is shown in the proved construction of door latch of the slidable accompanying drawing, throughout the several bolt type, embodying improved features of deviews of which corresponding reference charac- .5 sign, and having improved operating characterters .are used to designate corresponding parts 5 istics. and in which:

Objects of the present invention are to prol Figure l is a View in elevation of a lock emvide a door latch, particularly suited for use on bodying the invention; automobile doors, characterized as being simple Fig. 2 isa View in iront elevation, taken along 10 in construction, economical of manufacture, and the line 2 2 of Fig. l; 1o relatively efficient in operation; to provide such Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section, taken a door lock embodying a retractable bolt, a spring along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; or the like for biasing the boltto a predeter- Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section, taken mined position, and anti-friction means interalong the line 4-4 of Fig..1, and

posed 'between the bolt and the biasing means; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View of a modification 15 to provide such a lock in which the anti-friction of the invention, means takes the form of a roller interposed be- Referring to the drawing, the lock comprises tween the bolt and the spring, adapted to contain generally a casing so; a slidably retractame and a supply of lubricant for the engaging Surfaces; projectable boit l2; an inside retracung unk e4;

2o to provide such a lock embodying improved and apairof cooperating outside roll back mem- 20 cushioning means for limiting the movement of bers i6 and I8. The bolt I2 and the outside roll the bolt in a projecting direction; to provide such back members it and i8 are supported upon the a look in which the cushioning means includes casing lli, as hereinafter described, and it will a relatively soft bumper of rubber or the like be appreciated that the inside` operating link lil which becomes initially effective to retard the may extend in accordance with conventional 25 projecting movement of the bolt, and a stiier practice to the usual remotely located inside door bumper of rubber or the like, which becomes efoperating handle. fective as a nal stop to the projecting move- The casing IU, which may be conventionally ment; to provide such alock in which the bumper formed of a metal stamping or the like, commeans is formed as a part of the retracting means prises a base 25J, which is generally planar, and 30 for the'bolt; and to provide such a lock in which a laterally turned ange 22 at the forward edge the bolt, acting through the bumper means, conof the base. The ange 22 is provided with tinuously urges the retracting means andconsemounting holes 2li, by Which `the casing may be quently the vehicle door handle towards the ncrsecured Within the associated door, and 1S also mal or bolt projected position thereof. Y provided with a bolt opening 2G, through which 35 Further objects of the present invention are the nose of the bolt i2 pr0jCtS- The Opening to provide an improved door lock embodying a 25 is preferably made large enough to accommorst roll back member, rotatably responsive to a date a suitable lubricating element such as 28 door handle or the like, a retractable bolt, and a against Which the base of the bolt bears.

'40 second pivoted roll back member interposed be- The bolt l2 comprises an enlarged nose or head 40 tween the bolt and the first roll back member 3G. and a rearwardly @Xteldng POllOn 32, Which for retraoting the bolt in response to rotation are conventionally connected together as by of the first roll back member; to provide such `rivets 313. The head 3) projects through the prea construction in which the second roll back viously mentioned bolt opening-2@ formed inthe member carries a resilient bumper to form a stop casing iiange 24, and is guided between the pre- 45 to the projecting movement of the bolt, against viously mentioned lubricating member 28 and the which the bolt bears to continuously urge the base 2@ of the casing. The rearwardly extending roll backs to their normal or bolt projected polportion 32 of the bolt is supported on the casing sition; and to provide such a construction in l@ by a pin 36, which is received in an elongated which one of the roll back members includes a slot SSprovided in the portion 32. 50 locking device operable by the associated inside The connection between the bolt l2 and the inretracting means for the bolt to lock the roll side retracting link Ill is illustrated as comprisback members against actuation. ing a pin 40 carried by the link I4, which is slid- With the above as well as other objects in view, Vably received in an elongated slot 42 provided in which appear in the following description and in the rearwardly extending'portion 32 of the bolt. v55

With'this relation, it will be appreciated that a movement to the right ofV the link I4 causes a corresponding movement of bolt I2, withdrawing the head 30 thereof from operative engagement with the conventional door keeper (not shown). On Vthe other hand, the elongated slot 42 permits the bolt I2 to be retracted independently of the position of the inside operating link I4. In order to adapt itfor cooperation with the outside roll back members VI6 and I8, the rearwardly projecting portion'32 of the bolt I2 is provided with a laterally turnedY shoulder 44, Vwhich normall abuts the hereinafterdescribed buffer 46. f

The Ybolt I2 is continuously urged to the illusgtrated fully projected positionby a coil spring 50, one end 52 of which is received between a pair of spacer lugs 54 struck up from the base 20 of thecasing lil, and the other end 56 of which acts against the rear end of the head 30 of the bolt I2. In accordance with the present invention, in order to reduce friction between the bolt I2 and the spring 50,'as well as to subject the bolt I2 toa uniform biasing Veffect of the spring 58 inde' pendently of the position of the bolt, a Vroller 58 is interposed between the end 56Yof the spring 553 and the rear face of the head 30. The rear end of the head 36 is arcuately formed as indicated at 66 to form a bearing surface for the roller 58. The parts are shown in 'the figures with the bolt in its fully projected position, Vand Awith the roller 58 at what may be called the shallow end of the surface 60. If the bolt I2 is moved to the right, it will be appreciated that the ena 56 of thespring so will be subjected to a corresponding rightward movement, and also that the point of engagement between the roller 58 and theV end ofY spring 56 will move toward the extreme end of the spring; This relative movement between the roller 58 and the end 56 of the l spring 56 causes the roller to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as Viewed in Fig. 1, and also causes the roller 58 to ride down into the deeper part of the arcuate surface 60.l On the other hand, if `the bolt I2 is released so that it may be projected to its illustrated position under the influence of spring 50, an opposite relative movement will occur between ythe ends of the spring 50 and the roller 58 causing the roller'58 to rotate in a clockwise direction as Viewed in Fig. 1, which rotation will cause it to resume the position shown inrFig. 1.

VIt will be observed accordingly that all movement between' the4 spring 50,the roller 58 and the surface 60 Vis of a rolling, as `distinguished from a sliding, character, so that the friction between these. parts is very materially lessened. The movement of the bolt I2 relative to the casing I0, as well as thecorre'spondingV movement of the roller 58,'is of a'sliding character, and in further accordance Vwith the present invention, the roller 58 is provided with a bore 62 therethrough, which may be filled with asuitable lubricant to lubrivcate the engaging surfaces and reduce the friction of the just mentioned sliding movement.

It will be appreciated thatthe biasing effect of the spring 50 upon the bolt I2 depends primarily upon the distance from the center of the roller 58 and the end 56 of the spring. A featureV 1 70 spring to the point of engagement lbetween the of the Vpresent, invention consists in so relating the curvature of the surface 6I)F to the curved form 'of the end 56 of the spring Ythat the just mentioned distance vremains substantially uniformduring; the projecting and retracting movement of the bolt, so thatthe biasing effect of theV formed on the bolt I2.

c and the body of the bolt I2a comprises a roller 63.

Roller 63 is rotatably supported on the bolt Iza,

body and the casing portion 28a. AThe operation of the embodiment of Figure thus corresponds `inall respects to the operation described above, with the exception that the roller 63V does not move bodily relative to the bolt I2a. The positioning of the center of the spring 50a relative to the bolt and the roller 63 is such, however,

of the bolt, the effective radius of the'spring, i. e., the distance between the point of engagement of the spring with theroller 63V and the center of the spring, remains substantially uniform. Accordingly, as in the case of the first described embodiment, the effective biasingV force of the spring 58a, remains substantially uniform vfor all Vpositions of the bolt. Y f ,n y Y The outside roll back member I6 is provided l "by a pin 65, and is positioned between the bolt l Vthat during projecting and retracting movements y with a boss 64 which has a rotative bearingfit within a corresponding opening 66 provided therefor in the base 28 of the casing III, and is also provided with a squared opening 68 to receive the correspondingly squared spindle IllV of the conventional outside door operating handle. The nose 'I2 of the roll back I6 bears against the nose 'I4 of the companion outside roll back member I8. The latter roll back member is positioned between the base 26 of the case I8 and the rearwardly projecting part 32 of the bolt I2, and is pivotally supported in the casing by the previously mentioned pin 36. The buffer 46 is connected to the roll back'member I8, by means of a rivet or equivalent bearing element 16 and, as previously stated, bears directly against the shoulder 44 The bolt I2 is continuously urged tothe projected position by the spring 50, continuously bears against thebuifer 46, and so urges the roll backs I8 and 6 to the position as shown in Fig. 1, corresponding to the bolt projected position thereof. In addition, the roll back member I8 is provided with a continuously acting spring 18, one -end of which is secured between a pair of spaced lugs 80, struck inwardly from the base 20 of the casing I0, and

the other end 82 of which bears against the rear face of the roll back member I8. The spring 'I8 is effective to retain the rollback members [6 and I8 in the illustrated bolt projected position,

even though the bolt I2 is retracted. l

With the foregoing arrangement, it will be appreciated that arotation of the roll back member I6 in the clockwise direction, as influenced by the spindle 'I8, causes a counter-clockwise rotation of the roll back member I8 about the pin 36 asa center.Y This latter movement moves the buffer 'to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, and so effects a retracting movement ofthe bolt I 2. If the spindle 'i8 is released, the spring 50 returns the bolt I2 to its illustrated projected position. The return movement of the bolt I2 causes a corresponding return movement of the roll back members I6 and I8, and this returnmovement is also caused in part by the continuously acting spring 18.

Preferably and as illustrated, the outside-"roll back member I is provided with a supplemental or wedging roll back member 83, in accordance with the invention disclosed and claimed in Patent 1,895,893, granted January 31, 1933, to Raymond G. Moore, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The supplemental roll back member 83 is provided with a squared opening to accommodate the spindle 10, and is received between the roll back member I6 and a supplemental casing or closure member 84, which is suitably secured to the back Ztl of the casing, as by the one or more lugs 86. It will be appreciated that the squared openings in the roll-back members It and 82 are slightly largerthan the squared spindle Ill, so that normally this clearance wouid allow some little rotative movement of the spindle Iii to occur Without causing .a corresponding rotative movement of either the rollback it or the roll-back 83. In order to overcome this, the roll-back member S3 is provided with a nose 3d, so positioned with respect to the squared opening therein, that when the roll-back member it is in the position shown in Fig. l, the nose S8 binds against the inner face of the casing ange 22. This binding relation causes the squared openings in the roll-back members I6 .and I9 to be slightly angularly offset with respect to each other, so that the spindle 19 is securely wedged within these squared openings. Rotation of the spindle 'I0 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 is prevented by this wedging action since the nose 88 of the roll-back member 53 bears against the flange. Similarly, rotation of the spindle in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l is prevented by this wedging action since the roll-back member I6 is continuously urged to the position shown by the spring T8 and also by the bolt I2,

It vedil be noted that the buffer 46, in addition to constituting the means by which the outside roll-back members I6 and I8 are effective to move the bolt, also constitutes a positive but resilient limit stop to a projecting movement of the bolt I2. The provision of this resilient limit stop to the projecting movement of the bolt serves to overcome otherwise existing operating noises in the lock, and also lengthens the life of the lock parts by reducing the operating shocks thereon.

t may frequently happen, as where the door is slammed, and the bolt is forcibly retracted without causing a corresponding retracting movement of either the inside or outside retracting means, that the bolt, in being projected, will forcibly strike the buffer 46. To distribute the otherwise existing wear on the surface of the buffer 46, from this cause as well as others, it is preferred to make the buffer element 46 rotatable on the previously mentioned pin 16. For this purpose, the buler element 4B is provided with a bushing or a sleeve 99, which is relatively freely rotatable upon the pin T5. Each retracting movement of the roll-back member I8 relative to the bolt, causes the buffer 4S to swing in an arc of which the pin 36 is the center. This arcuate movement causes the buffer 4E to move downwardly somewhat relative to the shoulder 44. This downward movement applies a rotative force to the buffer d so that each retracting movement of the member I9 is accompanied by a slight angular rotative movement of the buier 46.

To further relieve the stresses on the buffer 46, as well as to further cushion the projecting movements of the bolt I2, it is preferred to provide the supplemental buffer 92, which is illustrated as comprising a block of rubber or similar material. The right-hand end of the buifer 92 is disposed in the path of a laterally turned shoulder 94 formed on the rearwardly projecting portion 32 of the bolt l2. The left-hand end of the buffer 92 bears against a stop @t secured to the base 20 oi' the casing iii. The buier 92 is further supported on the casing Iii by a strap 9S, one end of which is secured to the base 29 by .a lug Il struck inwardly from the latter, and the other end of which is secured thereto by the previously mentioned pin 33. The strap 18 also thus serves to retain the bolt i2 and roll-back member I8 against movement axially of the pin 36. The intermediate portion E32 of the member 98 is of generally channel iorrn so that it at least partially surrounds the buffer 92.

The buffer 9'?. is preferably made substantially softer than the buffer and is so positioned that the right-hand end thereof is engaged by the shoulder et substantially prior to the time that the butler Li is engaged by the shoulder 44. With this relation the relatively soft buffer 92 serves to retard the speed of the projecting movement of the bolt I2. Such projecting movement is finally stopped by the buiier 4t.

In order to enable the outside retracting means to be rendered ineffective to cause a retracting movement of the bolt, the roll-back member I8 is provided with a rearwardly extending shoulder E64, which is disposed in the path of movement of the pin i9 associated with the inside link i4. In accordance with conventional practice,

the operating lever (not shown) associated with Y the link id may be actuated to cause the latter to move to the left bringing the pin 4D over the shoulder Hifi. When so positioned, the pin 40 prevents a boit retracting movement of the rollback i8 and consequently of the roll-back IE and the spindle it). Preferably and as illustrated the slot 42 is of such a length that a retracting movement of the bolt i2 is effective to move the pin 46 out of the just mentioned blocking relation.

Summarizing the operation of the unit as a whole, it will be appreciated that the parts are shown in Fig. 1 with the bolt in the projected position. The bolt is` held in this position, by the spring 59, acting upon the bolt I2 through the anti-friction roller 58. At the same time, the shoulder 44 of the bolt I2 and the spring 18, acting through the roll-back member I8, holds the roll-back member It in the bolt projected position shown. The roll-back member I6 in turn, cooperating with the supplemental roll-back member 83, effectively holds the door spindle 'I0 in a predetermined rotative position, effectively preventing rattling thereof.

In order to retract operating spindle Iii, the latter may be rotated causing a rotation of the roll-back members I6 and i8, and causing a corresponding retracting movement of the bolt I2. Upon release of the spindle lil, the spring 59 is effective to return the bolt I2 to its projected position. Similarly, the bolt i2 and the spring FS serve to return the roll-back members I6 and I8 to the illustrated position.

A retracting movement of the bolt I2 may also be caused by the inside link It, independently of the position of the outside retracting means and, upon release of the inside lever, the spring 50 serves to return the bolt to its projectedposition. During such latter retracting movements, the

spring 'I8 serves to hold the outside operating means in the bolt projected position; Further, the boltV I2 may be retracted independently of either the inside or outside retracting means, as by slamming the door, in-which event, the pin 4I]V associated withA the inside retracting means slides within the slot 42 provided therefor, and the shoulder 44 simply moves freely away from the buffer 46, without disturbing the position of the outside roll-backs I6 and I8, as iniiuenced by the spring 18. Each projecting movement of the bolt I 2 is cushioned first by the buffer 92 kand finally by the buffer 46.

During each of the above described retracting .movements of the bolt I2, the roller 58, whichV rolls relative to the bolt I2 and also relative to theispring 50, serves to eliminate any sliding contact between the parts, and so materially reduces theoperating friction of the lock. At the same time, the form and arrangement of the end of the spring 50, the roller 58, and the recess provided therefor in the bolt, serve to maintain the biasing eiect ofthe spring V5I) at a uniform value independently of the position of the bolt.

It will be noted that the inside link I4 may readily be positioned so that the pin 40 abuts the right-hand end of the slot 42 when the bolt is projected. With thisbarrangernentrthe initial retracting movement of the link causes a corresponding retracting movement of the bolt I2, entirely eliminating any play between the parts. In addition, due to the fact that the bolt shoulder 44 continuously bears against the buffer 46 and that the roll-back member I8 continuously bears against the roll-back member I6 and, that, finally, the roll-back member I6 is in wedged relation to the spindle 10, it will be appreciated that any play between the spindle I0 andthe bolt I2 is entirely eliminated. Thus, the Yinitial movement of the spindle 'I0 in a clockwise direc'- tlon is effective to start the retracting movement of the bolt. Y

From the foregoing it will bek appreciated that the present invention provides an extremely simple and effective door locking device. It will fur- ,therv be appreciated that various modifications in the form, number and arrangement of the parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, .a movable bolt, means urging said bolt to a projected position, a retracting means adapted to be moved in one direction to retract said bolt, means limiting movement of said retracting means in the othei` direction so as to render said retracting means effective .as a limit stop to the projecting movement of said bolt, andV a relatively compressible buffer positioned for engagement by the bolt and serving to cushion iinal projecting movements thereof, said buffer being engageable by the bolt before the bolt reaches the limit afforded by the retracting means,V and said buffer'be-ing sumciently compressible to enable said bolt to travel tosaid limit afforded by said retracting means.

'2. In a latch having a. case plate, the combination Vof a movable bolt, means for urging said Ybolt toal projected position, a retracting means movable in one direction to retract said bolt,

means limiting movement of said retractingV means in the other direction so thatsaid retractingY means is effective as a limit. stop to Ya ,projecting movement of said bolt, a first bnier interposedfb'etween said retracting means and -said1 -bolt, Yand a supplemental andY relatively softer buffer carried by the case plate and disposed in the path of projecting movement ofthe bolt. Y Y Y 3. In adevice of the class described, the combination of a movable bolt, means for urging said bolt to a projected position, a retracting means movable in one direction to retract said bolt, means limiting movement of said retracting means in the other direction so that said retracting means is eiective as a limit stop to a projecting movement of said bolt, and a rotatable resilient buffer interposed between said retracting means and said bolt, said engagement between the buffer and the bolt acting to ro- V tate said buffer and distribute wear thereon.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a bolt sldable on said casing and having a slot therein, a spring carried` by said casing and disposed to continuously urge said bolt to a projected'position, aV pin securedY to said casing and projecting through said slot to guide the movement of said bolt, a roll-back pivoted-in said casing, a-pivoted member connected between said roll-back and said bolt and .retra'cting the bolt, a retracting member interposed between said rollback and bolt and forming an operative connection therebetween, and means common to said bolt and retracting-member and forming a guide for said bolt and forming a pivotal mounting for said retracting member.

6. In a latch having a case plate, the combination of a boltslidably carried by the casing Vfor movement between retracted and projected positions, a rollback mounted on said case plate for retracting the bolt, a retracting member interposed between said rollback and bolt and forming an operative connection therebetween, means common to said bolt and retracting member and forming a guide for said bolt andrforming a pivotal mounting for said retracting member, and means movable into the path of swinging movement of the retracting member for dogglng said rollback.

7. In a latch having a case plate, the combination of a bolt slidably carried by the casing for movement between retracted and projected positions, a rollback pivotally mounted on saidcase plate for retracting the bolt, a retracting member interposed between said rollback and bolt and forming an operative connection therebetween, a pin projecting from the case plate and acting to guide the bolt thereon, and a retracting member pivotally mounted on the pin and interposed between the rollback and the bolt so as to form an operative connection therebetween.

8. In a latch having a case plate, the combination of a boltslidably carried by the casing for Vmovement between retracted and projected po'- sitions, a rollback mounted on said case plate' Yso as to prevent operation of ber, inside operated retracting means operatively connected to the bolt, and means actuable by said inside operated means into blocking relation to said retracting member whereby to dog said rollback.

9. In a latch having a case plate, the combination of a bolt slidably carried by the casing for movement between retracted andI projected positions, a rollback pivotally mounted on said case plate for retracting the bolt, a retracting member interposed between said rollback and bolt and forming an operative connection therebetween, a deck positioned in spaced relation to the case plate, a pin having its ends anchored in the case plate and deck respectively, said pin acting to guide the bolt and to provide a pivotal mounting for the retracting member, and a resilient buffer secured in place between the deck and the case plate and disposed for cushioning engagement by the bolt.

10. In a latch having a case plate, a deck secured to the case plate in spaced relation thereto, a bolt slidably mounted on the case plate and having a portion projecting between the deck and case plate, means including said deck and case plate for guiding and supporting said bolt portion, and a resilient buffer secured between the deck and case plate and disposed for cushioning engagement by the bolt.

ROLLO MARPLE. 

